The Story of Pleats and The Magician of Venice Photography by Boston Photographer Steve Marsel

The Magician of Venice  by Raquel Vidal

Although Mariano Fortuny took his silk pleating and dying techniques to his grave with him in 1949, his pleated “Delphos” gown was no secret to the fashionable a century ago.

Worn by such legends as Isadora Duncan, Sarah Bernhard and Mrs. Conde Nast, and now fetching well over $40,000 at auction, his couture confections were one of a kind masterpieces inspired by his love for ancient Grecian styles and the creation of sumptuous textiles.  A true Renaissance man, Fortuny was an exceptional painter, lighting designer, photographer, inventor, textile designer, architect and couturier.  Some of his stage lighting innovations are still in use.  If he were alive in this day and age, he would easily keep the same nickname, “The Magician of Venice” despite today’s headline-hungry press’ probable attempts to label him as “Wagner Groupie” (he followed composer Richard Wagner obsessively all over Europe) or “Venetian Eccentric” (he favored 16^th century costumes while working in his palazzo, now the Museum Fortuny). One thing is for certain, however: every pleated gown designed today bears homage to the ever lingering magic of the great master.

Guest Blogger Raquel Vidal is a NYC based fashion stylist, and a former fashion editor at Mademoiselle and Kidstyle magazines.

Special thanks go to the very talented Stylist Terry J. Wheaton, Model Amanda Gordon, Hair and Make-up by Lisa Roche, The incredible retouching of  Mr. James Eves, and Photo Editor Raquel Vidal. Photograph by Steve Marsel

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.